Defences on top in Highland stalemate
Aberdeen 0
SPFL Scottish Premiership | Caledonian Stadium | 7.45pm | FT
Match summary:
Aberdeen and Inverness played out a goalless draw in The Highlands in the first of the SPFL Premiership’s post-split fixtures. The Dons started brightly but it was the home side who created the first chance of the game when Watkins got beyond the Dons defence and played the ball to McKay whose effort at goal was well saved by Langfield. On 11 minutes McGinn crossed in from the right but Rooney’s header was weak and saved by Brill. 7 minutes later The Dons nearly took the lead through an own goal when Meekings inadvertently headed a free kick towards his own net but Brill did well to palm the ball away to safety. After that The Dons dominated large spells and nearly took the lead on 37 minutes when Pawlett drove into box superbly, played a neat pass to McGinn whose shot cannoned off the crossbar and the rebound was bundled away to safety.
After half time, The Dons continued to dominate for long periods of the game but so often found a stubborn Inverness defence in front of them. On 57 minutes, McGinn picked up a loose pass from Meekings and drove into the box before firing his effort straight at Brill . Then, on 68 minutes, Inverness worked their way into the Inverness box and crashed a shot off the crossbar. The rebound nearly landed perfectly for the home side but a great challenge by Logan averted the danger. The large Dons support claimed for a penalty when Warren went to ground to clear a dangerous ball across the box- but replays suggested it hit his back rather than a hand. With minutes left The Dons pushed for a winner and only good defending by Warren stopped McGinn from claiming it. In injury time, Cammy Smith drove into the box and flashed an effort wide of the post as the game ended in stalemate.
Team news: Jonny Hayes made a surprising return to the Dons starting XI. He replaced the suspended Ryan Jack in the only change to the side from Sunday’s Scottish Cup Semi Final.
Aberdeen team | Langfield, Logan, Anderson, Considine, Reynolds, Flood, Robson, McGinn, Hayes (Smith 63′), Rooney (Zola 86′), Pawlett
Substitutes not used | Weaver, Shaughnessy, Robertson, Low, Vernon
RedWeb match report | please click here
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Quotes from the press room | please click here
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Derek McInnes | please click here
Jamie Langfield | please click here
Cammy Smith | please click here
Cammy Smith | please click here
Cammy Smith | please click here
